Summary

Formation constants for the calcium(II), magnesium(II) and zinc(II) complexes of the orally effective iron chelator, pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) and three analogues, pyridoxal benzoyl hydrazone (PBH), pyridoxalp-methoxybenzoyl hydrazone (PpMBH) and pyridoxalm-fluorobenzoyl hydrazone (PmFBH) have been determined by potentiometry at 25\dg C andI=0.1 M [KNO3]. The four ligands bind calcium(II) weakly and magnesium(II) only slightly more strongly, as a l: l complex which is formed at pH \s> 8. The chelation of zinc(II) for all the ligands studied was greater than that for calcium(II) and magnesium(II), with complexation generally becoming significant at about pH 5. Thus, chelation of zinc(II) but not calcium(II) or magnesium(II) at physiological pH, 7.4 may be expected. Calculated values of the concentration of uncomplexed metal ion indicate that the selectivity of these ligands towards Fe(III) is comparable to that of the clinically used chelator desferrioxamine.